Narkel naru/coconut balls(with sugar and jaggery))

A festival special confection in which freshly grated coconut is cooked with sugar and jaggery before being shaped into little balls.

Ingredients :

For 'chini' (sugar) 'naru'

• 200 grams Freshly grated coconut
• 200 grams Sugar
• ½ cup Khoya (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Ghee
• ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder (option)

For 'gur' (jaggery) 'naru'

• 200 grams Freshly grated coconut
• 150 grams Jaggery
• 1 tablespoon Ghee

Instructions :

For chini (sugar) naru:

1. In a wok or kadhai, heat 1 tablespoon ghee.
2. As the ghee smokes, add the grated coconut and stir for 2 minutes.
3. Add the sugar along with khoya and mix well.
4. Stir frequently until the sugar melts completely and has mixed with the grated coconut. Be careful about letting the sugar-coconut mix burn.
5. Once the coconut mixture is sticky and can be shaped into balls, remove from the flame and set aside until it is warm. (To check whether the coconut mixture is cooked enough, scoop a tiny portion into your palm and shape it into a ball. If the shape holds, your coconut mixture is ready.)
6. Let the mixture warm for a minute or two before forming small balls with it. A cool mixture will not allow you to shape so be careful.
7. Serve fresh or store in airtight containers for 8-10 days.

For gurer (jaggery) naru:

1. In a wok or kadhai, heat 1 tablespoon ghee.
2. As the ghee smokes, add the grated coconut and stir for 2 minutes.
3. Add the jaggery and mix well.
4. Stir frequently until the jaggery melts completely and the coconut has taken a brown hue. Be careful about letting the jaggery-coconut mix burn.
5. Once the coconut mixture is sticky and can be shaped into balls, remove from the flame and set aside until warm. (To check whether the coconut mixture is cooked enough, scoop a tiny portion into your palm and shape it into a ball. If the shape holds, your coconut mixture is ready.)
6. Let the mixture warm for a minute or two before forming small balls with it. A cool mixture will not allow you to shape so be careful.
7. Serve fresh or store in airtight containers for 8-10 days.